The University of Sydney has a rich and storied tradition in scholarship, research, and public service. The Sidney Prize is awarded to a student whose work best exemplifies these traditions of excellence in undergraduate study and conduct, including creative writing, history, and science.
The prize is named in memory of the late Sidney Smith, a Member of Parliament from 1854 to 1861 and a Member of the Legislative Council from 1861 to 1863. It is awarded annually to the leading undergraduate majoring in politics and history during their second year of study.
This prize is awarded to the undergraduate who best exemplifies the qualities of scholarly integrity, originality and creativity in their undergraduate writing, which most closely resembles the standards of excellence that Sidney set for himself and his students. Applicants must be enrolled in an English undergraduate course at the University of Sydney.
To submit an entry, please fill out the following form. Your submission will be considered by the editorial team and a selection panel of judges, who will choose the winner.
You should be able to clearly communicate the purpose of your writing, which may include a historical, social or political theme. It is also important to include a strong sense of style and to present the material in a way that is accessible to non-specialist readers. The judges are particularly interested in the ways in which a writer uses literary conventions and techniques to create a new approach.
In addition to the prize, we will also publish the winning piece in Overland. We encourage entries that take up the voice or experience of a marginalised or vulnerable identity, or that reflect on the relationship between people and their environment in an innovative or original way.
If you are an emerging scholar, this prize may be especially meaningful to you, as it recognizes the potential for growth in your field and is intended to help you further your development and reputation within your chosen area of scholarship. Moreover, you are likely to be able to build on your achievements by taking advantage of the University of Sydney’s extensive network of professional connections.
For further information, please contact the Executive Secretary in the Office of the Executive Secretary or the Senior Assistant to the Editors. The deadline for nominations is April 15, for essays published in the prior calendar year.
Previously known as the Dexter Prize, the Edelstein Prize was established in 1968 through the generosity of the late Sidney Edelstein, a noted expert on the history of dyes and dye processes. It consists of an award of $3,500 and a plaque. It is donated by Ruth Edelstein Barish and her family in memory of Sidney and his commitment to excellence in scholarship in the history of technology.